They Called Us Lucky

Ruben Gallego's "They Called Us 'Lucky'" stands as a powerful and unflinching account of one of the Iraq War's most devastating chapters. The book chronicles the experiences of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines, a reserve unit from Ohio that suffered catastrophic losses during the Iraq War. Gallego, who served as a Marine corporal and later became a U.S. Congressman representing Arizona, draws on his own combat experience and extensive research to tell the story of a unit that paid an extraordinary price during the conflict.

The narrative centers on Lima Company's deployment to Iraq in 2005, particularly their operations in the volatile Anbar Province. The unit, composed primarily of reservists who had civilian lives and careers back home, found themselves thrust into some of the most dangerous combat situations of the entire war. The title itself reflects a bitter irony that permeates the book: these Marines were called "lucky" by some, yet they endured losses that would haunt them and their communities for years to come. The company suffered among the highest casualty rates of any unit in the Iraq War, a fact that Gallego examines with both reverence for the fallen and clear-eyed analysis of the circumstances that led to such devastating losses.

Gallego's writing combines the immediacy of firsthand combat experience with the perspective of someone who has spent years reflecting on the war's meaning and impact. His approach is neither sensationalist nor sanitized. Instead, he presents the reality of modern warfare with raw honesty, detailing the chaos of urban combat, the constant threat of improvised explosive devices, and the psychological toll of watching friends and fellow Marines fall in battle. The book does not shy away from the brutal specifics of what these Marines endured, but it also avoids gratuitous violence for its own sake.

One of the book's significant strengths lies in its examination of the aftermath of combat. The "afterlife" referenced in the subtitle proves just as important as the wartime experiences themselves. Gallego explores how the surviving members of Lima Company struggled to reintegrate into civilian life, dealing with post-traumatic stress, survivor's guilt, and the challenge of finding meaning after such profound loss. The book traces the long shadow that the Iraq War cast over the families and communities from which these Marines came, showing how the cost of war extends far beyond the battlefield and far beyond the individuals who served.

The author's dual perspective as both a combat veteran and a politician adds depth to the narrative. Gallego does not use the book as a political platform, but his experience in Congress informs his understanding of the policy decisions that led to the war and shaped its conduct. This broader context helps readers understand how strategic and tactical decisions made at the highest levels had direct and often tragic consequences for the Marines on the ground. The book examines questions about the justification for the war, the adequacy of equipment and support provided to troops, and the disconnect between political rhetoric and battlefield reality.

Gallego's research is evident throughout the work. He draws on interviews with surviving members of Lima Company, families of fallen Marines, and official military records to construct a comprehensive account. The book benefits from this thorough approach, as it allows multiple voices and perspectives to emerge. The Marines portrayed in these pages are not generic warriors but individuals with distinct personalities, backgrounds, and motivations for serving. This attention to individual stories prevents the narrative from becoming an abstract meditation on war and keeps the human cost at the forefront.

The book also serves as an important historical document, preserving the experiences of a reserve unit during a controversial conflict. Reserve and National Guard units played a much larger role in the Iraq War than in previous American conflicts, and their stories deserve the same attention given to active-duty forces. Gallego ensures that Lima Company's service and sacrifice are recorded for future generations, contributing to the broader understanding of how the Iraq War was fought and who fought it.

"They Called Us 'Lucky'" ultimately succeeds as both a war memoir and a meditation on the long-term consequences of combat. Gallego has produced a work that honors the fallen while refusing to romanticize their deaths or the war itself. The book challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths about the costs of military intervention and the obligations owed to those who serve. For anyone seeking to understand the human dimensions of the Iraq War, this account provides essential and sobering insights into what one unit endured and how those experiences continue to resonate years after the fighting ended.